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A Furious Devotion: The Life of Shane MacGowan
Punk protagonist, legendary drinker, Irish musical icon. The complete and extraordinary journey of the Pogues’ notorious frontman from outcast to national treasure has never been told – until now. A Furious Devotion: The Life of Shane MacGowan vividly recounts the experiences that shaped the greatest songwriter of his generation: the formative trips to his mother’s homestead in Tipperary, the explosion of punk which changed his life, and the drink and drugs that nearly ended it. As well as exclusive interviews with Shane himself, author Richard Balls has secured contributions from his wife and family, and people who have never spoken publicly about Shane before: close associates, former girlfriends and the English teacher who first spotted his literary gift. Nick Cave, Aidan Gillen, Cillian Murphy, Christy Moore, Sinead O’Connor and Dermot O’Leary are on the rollcall of those paying tribute to the gifted songwriter and poet. This frank and extensive biography also includes many previously unseen personal photographs.
368 pages, Paperback
Published June 18, 2024
45 people are currently reading
363 people want to read
About the author
Richard Balls
8 books7 followersRichard is a die-hard music fan and the author of three music-related books: A Furious Devotion: The Authorised Story of Shane MacGowan; Be Stiff: The Stiff Records Story, and Sex & Drugs & Rock 'n' Roll: The Life Of Ian Dury.
He was a news journalist for 20 years, spending almost half of that time working for national papers in Ireland, and frequently covered crime and politics. For the past 14 years he has worked in communications.
A passionate supporter of Norwich City Football Club, he lives in the city, and is married with two daughters.
He was a news journalist for 20 years, spending almost half of that time working for national papers in Ireland, and frequently covered crime and politics. For the past 14 years he has worked in communications.
A passionate supporter of Norwich City Football Club, he lives in the city, and is married with two daughters.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
January 14, 2022
Though this was a remarkably hard book to read, I couldn't put it down. It details the life and music of one of my heroes, Shane MacGowan, the singer of the Irish punk band The Pogues. Years ago I'd read his wife Victoria Mary Clarke's "A Drink with Shane MacGowan," which was rough, but this "Furious Devotion" goes much deeper and with more analysis. I knew that Shane's addictions were brutal, I just didn't know how brutal. This is a portrait of self-destruction, yet conducted by someone who, in the midst of pain and darkness, can also see the profound beauty around him, especially in the people he loves. This is a helpful book to read for anyone who has a person in their life who is self-destructive, addicted, and yet who is a person you love and want to help.
Shane's music, especially with The Pogues, have meant a lot to me -- The Pogues sit alongside Johnny Cash, CCR, The Clash, and The Dead, as those bands who are in my DNA. Really, it's between Johnny Cash and Shane as to who is most embedded in my psyche. I don't remember when I first started listening to them, but I do recall that I first heard them as I was working my way through The Dubliners' musical corpus. Shane's voice came through either on "Jack's Heroes" or "The Irish Rover" on those recordings where The Dubs and The Pogues played together. His deep timbre sat in stark contrast to Ronnie Drew's nasally voice in a way that didn't leave you. My first Pogues album was "If I Should all from Grace with God," which I have listened to on repeat countless times and will continue to listen to countless times over. I'd long been into punk rock and so was surprised that I didn't really know them before. It was as I was engaging with my Irish roots that they became really important to me as I tried to understand aspects of my own family identity.
"Furious Devotion" details Shane's life growing up in and around London with his frequent trips to Co. Tipperary to visit his extended family in the summers of his youth where the Irish mythos seeped into his soul. The book does a great job at situating him in the early London punk scene as he was a staple at shows put on by The Clash and The Sex Pistols. I learned a lot about his first real band, The Nips, and how he met Jem and started The Pogues -- all of this was really helpful as I try to understand the history of the music that is most important to me. As The Pogues grew in popularity due to their genius song-writing and Shane's beautiful and deep poetry, he could handle the fame less and less, driving him further into a substance abuse that began when he was just a kid. It's awful to watch as you read about his continued decline -- the wealth of photographs in the book detail this all too well also -- though it's amazing to see Shane's iron constitution as his body was able to somehow handle the severe and continued amounts of poison he was (and still is) putting into it.
It was great to read about the various people that were in his life at various stages, beyond just his family and bandmates -- there's a whos who of musicians in this book, from Joe Strummer, Chrissie Hynde, Nick Cave, Christy Moore, Glen Hansard, Sinead O'Connor and on and on. The book really helped me understand the role that these people played in Shane's life and he in theirs.
The end of the book is quite poignant and hopeful -- especially as the author details the dedication of his friends and fans, and the impact he's had on them and on music and art in general. I so wish I could have been in Dublin a couple of years ago when Shane received the Lifetime Achievement Award given to him by the Irish president, his peers, and his fans; that seemed like quite a powerful event whose emotion came through performances of his music that he got to take in first-hand.
While the book needs a little editorial work, all-in-all it was well-written and communicated effectively the complex, beautiful, and sad life of one of modern Ireland's most "famous bards." Music lovers, punks, people of Irish blood, and those seeking to understand the devastation of addiction should read this book.
Shane's music, especially with The Pogues, have meant a lot to me -- The Pogues sit alongside Johnny Cash, CCR, The Clash, and The Dead, as those bands who are in my DNA. Really, it's between Johnny Cash and Shane as to who is most embedded in my psyche. I don't remember when I first started listening to them, but I do recall that I first heard them as I was working my way through The Dubliners' musical corpus. Shane's voice came through either on "Jack's Heroes" or "The Irish Rover" on those recordings where The Dubs and The Pogues played together. His deep timbre sat in stark contrast to Ronnie Drew's nasally voice in a way that didn't leave you. My first Pogues album was "If I Should all from Grace with God," which I have listened to on repeat countless times and will continue to listen to countless times over. I'd long been into punk rock and so was surprised that I didn't really know them before. It was as I was engaging with my Irish roots that they became really important to me as I tried to understand aspects of my own family identity.
"Furious Devotion" details Shane's life growing up in and around London with his frequent trips to Co. Tipperary to visit his extended family in the summers of his youth where the Irish mythos seeped into his soul. The book does a great job at situating him in the early London punk scene as he was a staple at shows put on by The Clash and The Sex Pistols. I learned a lot about his first real band, The Nips, and how he met Jem and started The Pogues -- all of this was really helpful as I try to understand the history of the music that is most important to me. As The Pogues grew in popularity due to their genius song-writing and Shane's beautiful and deep poetry, he could handle the fame less and less, driving him further into a substance abuse that began when he was just a kid. It's awful to watch as you read about his continued decline -- the wealth of photographs in the book detail this all too well also -- though it's amazing to see Shane's iron constitution as his body was able to somehow handle the severe and continued amounts of poison he was (and still is) putting into it.
It was great to read about the various people that were in his life at various stages, beyond just his family and bandmates -- there's a whos who of musicians in this book, from Joe Strummer, Chrissie Hynde, Nick Cave, Christy Moore, Glen Hansard, Sinead O'Connor and on and on. The book really helped me understand the role that these people played in Shane's life and he in theirs.
The end of the book is quite poignant and hopeful -- especially as the author details the dedication of his friends and fans, and the impact he's had on them and on music and art in general. I so wish I could have been in Dublin a couple of years ago when Shane received the Lifetime Achievement Award given to him by the Irish president, his peers, and his fans; that seemed like quite a powerful event whose emotion came through performances of his music that he got to take in first-hand.
While the book needs a little editorial work, all-in-all it was well-written and communicated effectively the complex, beautiful, and sad life of one of modern Ireland's most "famous bards." Music lovers, punks, people of Irish blood, and those seeking to understand the devastation of addiction should read this book.
February 24, 2022
One of the most comprehensive accounts of Shane's life that you'll ever come across. Written by a man who spent time with Shane, Victoria and many members of their entourage. I commend Richard on the effort he's put into interviewing relevant people and preparing a complimentary, but honest account of the unorthodox man that is Shane MacGowan.
December 29, 2021
I can see how the discussion went when the author’s people and MacGowan’s people met to discuss whether the biography would be authorized. The MacGowan people said “Say whatever you want about his behaviour, addictions and all that, just don’t dis the music. And if you say anything good about the oboe on “Rainy Night in Soho” we’re done.
It does present a picture of a troubled genius who destroyed his body and his mind in order to create.
It might have overblown his contribution to music and might make a bit of a meal about his songwriting prowess, but it is an honest account of a difficult and complicated life.
It does present a picture of a troubled genius who destroyed his body and his mind in order to create.
It might have overblown his contribution to music and might make a bit of a meal about his songwriting prowess, but it is an honest account of a difficult and complicated life.
February 19, 2024
Although this book needed another draft, given some errors (such as the Pogues ending their first U.S. tour in 1986 at the Palace rather than the Palladium in Hollywood, where I was front center standing, and thus one of a few devotees who, pushed against the stage by hundreds behind us, shared his plastic cup of Guinness which Shane bent down to share with us), it's a worthwhile presentation of the late singer-songwriter. The author knew Shane for over two decades, and he's thoroughly examined the myth behind the man. He interviewed musicians, bandmates, family, friends, and lovers who bore both the brunt of his sometimes brutal betrayals and the bonhomie of his companionship and erudition. He's a complicated subject, full of self-aggrandizing boasts and tall tales. Balls takes the time to survey the whole range of reactions to Shane's impacts. Although this appeared about three years before his death, I sense not much would have been added. Like his peers Mark E Smith or Sinead O'Connor, his premature passing provides a sobering lesson of the damage drugs and drink can wreak on talent.
February 6, 2022
I've never been a big fan of The Pogues or indeed bothered to find out much about their front man, the larger than life Shane MacGowan. However, living in the UK in the 90s it was hard not to see him occasionally and he is definitely a commanding presence when he does appear on TV for example. Whenever I have seen him performing or interviewed he seems to have been virtually paralytic with booze or some other substance and indeed, that does seem to have been the story of his life pretty much.
RB charts his life in a pretty chronological way as would be expected, and I was very interested in his rise to fame and fortune. I always assumed him to be born and bred in Ireland and whilst his roots, and his passions are certainly with and within the Emerald Isle, he actually grew up in the south of England, and lived his early career in London. This accounts for his London accent of course. Now having said that, nobody is questioning his Irish-ness as he has deep and wide connections there through family and has spent much time there.
It's amazing MacGowan is still alive. He has seen many of his friends and peers succumb to the drink and drugs lifestyle he has somehow survived, albeit in a state of greatly diminished health. When one sees him performing on videos from the Pogues heyday, drunk, almost slurring his words, rotting teeth in his mouth and cigarette in hand he doesn't look long for this world yet he is still here. I am not really qualified to rank him in a pantheon of songwriters but he was undoubtedly very gifted in this area, his classic, unorthodox Christmas "Fairly Tale of New York" being deservedly his best known and evocative work.
I enjoyed this telling of MacGowan's life; it is well written and easy to consume. It is clear that Balls has set out to provide a "warts and all" narrative and there is plenty of material here, that's for sure. I do think that it must be a particular challenge to write a bio of a subject still alive since it necessitates spending time getting material not only from those that know him, but also from the horses mouth so to speak. What often happened is that the author and the subject become friends and therefore I wonder if objectivity suffers. We are told, time and again, how shy Shane is and what a overall "good guy" he is whilst at the same time, being informed about his claims to violence, temper and general proclivity for being obnoxious. Now, it is not up to me to judge any one's lifestyle and I have absolutely no problem with hedonism, in fact I often wish I had lived a life more along those lines. However, it does seem to have been so central to his life that the negatives, although mentioned frequently, seem a little understated to me, at least until the final chapter.
Still, this is well worth a read and MacGowan is undoubtedly a magnetic figure if only in the way of a train wreck; ie we can't take our eyes off it no matter how horrifying the spectacle. I am glad a read this bio and whilst not going to change the world, is certainly an entertaining diversion from many of the other books I read.
RB charts his life in a pretty chronological way as would be expected, and I was very interested in his rise to fame and fortune. I always assumed him to be born and bred in Ireland and whilst his roots, and his passions are certainly with and within the Emerald Isle, he actually grew up in the south of England, and lived his early career in London. This accounts for his London accent of course. Now having said that, nobody is questioning his Irish-ness as he has deep and wide connections there through family and has spent much time there.
It's amazing MacGowan is still alive. He has seen many of his friends and peers succumb to the drink and drugs lifestyle he has somehow survived, albeit in a state of greatly diminished health. When one sees him performing on videos from the Pogues heyday, drunk, almost slurring his words, rotting teeth in his mouth and cigarette in hand he doesn't look long for this world yet he is still here. I am not really qualified to rank him in a pantheon of songwriters but he was undoubtedly very gifted in this area, his classic, unorthodox Christmas "Fairly Tale of New York" being deservedly his best known and evocative work.
I enjoyed this telling of MacGowan's life; it is well written and easy to consume. It is clear that Balls has set out to provide a "warts and all" narrative and there is plenty of material here, that's for sure. I do think that it must be a particular challenge to write a bio of a subject still alive since it necessitates spending time getting material not only from those that know him, but also from the horses mouth so to speak. What often happened is that the author and the subject become friends and therefore I wonder if objectivity suffers. We are told, time and again, how shy Shane is and what a overall "good guy" he is whilst at the same time, being informed about his claims to violence, temper and general proclivity for being obnoxious. Now, it is not up to me to judge any one's lifestyle and I have absolutely no problem with hedonism, in fact I often wish I had lived a life more along those lines. However, it does seem to have been so central to his life that the negatives, although mentioned frequently, seem a little understated to me, at least until the final chapter.
Still, this is well worth a read and MacGowan is undoubtedly a magnetic figure if only in the way of a train wreck; ie we can't take our eyes off it no matter how horrifying the spectacle. I am glad a read this bio and whilst not going to change the world, is certainly an entertaining diversion from many of the other books I read.
November 13, 2021
A superb book to complement and add to the earlier 'A drink with Shane MacGowan' this delves deeper into the man by interviewing a range of people who know him have observed and helped him become who he is. It pulls no punches and shows the dark and dangerous roads he's travelled as well as his undoubted genius as a poet and songwriter. This is exactly what a biography should be and will take his fans on a rollercoaster of emotions. Enjoyable, funny, tragic, enlightening and always entertaining. Much credit it due to the author. And hopefully, Shane has a few chapters left to write yet. 5/5
November 5, 2021
Would thoroughly recommend to fans of Shane, The Pogues and to fans of music biographies. An illuminating read with a great selection of interviewees get to the heart of the greatest songwriter of his generation.
Shane MacGowan - A Man You Don’t Meet Every Day
Shane MacGowan - A Man You Don’t Meet Every Day
January 8, 2022
I think this is a great book, and a great story about a great poet and singer and song writer. I have known Shane over many years in a very natural low key but close up way. I feel this book captures the great soul underneath those brilliant songs and the mighty story of his life. I think A Furious Devotion is brilliantly written and crafted by Richard Balls and tells the complex multifaced truth of a complex multifaceted life. It moved me, and inspired me and reminded me of the great gigs and the joy. Thanks Shane for the joy.
January 30, 2023
Yep ....... nothing new really but OK read........need to get it back to the library so flipped through a bit........ I'm a fan of his music so .......
August 24, 2024
This is an excellent portrait of an artist and a person that goes way beyond the facts of the case or the legend as it has otherwise been written. Richard Balls tells Shane's story warts-and-all, some of which was on the public record already, some of which was not. There's a lot of honest stuff in the book, and I feel like I understand Shane somewhat better as a full person now. What's interesting is as much as I knew about Shane the musician/writer/artist, Ball reveals why we rarely got deeper - Shane is shy, not interested in talking about himself or being the center of attention, and not interested in being part of any in crowd or whatever else is going on. ("I don't like writing about my personal hangups like a lot of populists do, I just like giving an impression of real life.")
And it's incredibly readable without ever playing up drama. Things seem in balance, the way a life actually plays out ... we learn as much about Shane's down time as we do about his wild times. It's a really excellent telling, with many many people serving as sources.
And it's incredibly readable without ever playing up drama. Things seem in balance, the way a life actually plays out ... we learn as much about Shane's down time as we do about his wild times. It's a really excellent telling, with many many people serving as sources.
January 9, 2022
A raw look into the life of Shane MacGowan. Although fascinating if you have watched Crock Of Gold this almost acts as a companion piece.
December 4, 2021
Excellent book. Must read for Pogues or MacGowan fans, or anyone with an interest in Irish music/ punk music.
May 2, 2022
Very thorough in telling McGowan's story. Very uncomfortable at times, not sure why some people stuck by him.
April 24, 2025
Richard Balls ‘Shane MacGowan: Divlja odanost” – anatomija pada iz Božje milosti
Svi koji su poznavali Shanea MacGowana o svojim iskustvima s jednim od najvećih modernih irskih bardova govore više-manje isto. “Velikodušan, drag, neopisivo inteligentan, duhovan, iskren, suosjećajan… i posve mortus” samo su neki epiteti koje će iskoristiti, recimo, Nick Cave, no svijet će ga uglavnom pamtiti po ovom posljednjem.
“Čak i ako ne računamo legendarnu konzumaciju alkohola i narkotika, nekoliko su ga puta pregazili,napali su ga nebrojeno puta i tukli nogama u glavu, predozirao se, bio je na intenzivnoj, bio u ludnicama, ispadao iz vozila u pokretu; gotovo da si je pokušao ugroziti život na sve zamislive načine,” kaže njegova supruga Victoria Mary Clarke, ujedno i autorica knjige “A Drink with Shane MacGowan”.
No, ovdje govorimo o jednoj drugoj knjizi, onoj Richarda Ballsa koja nosi naziv “Shane MacGowan: Divlja odanost”, a jednostavno je podnaslovljena kao “biografija frontmena Poguesa”. Riječ je o posljednjoj službenog biografiji koja je objavljena za Shaneova života, i to najesen 2021., dvije godine prije smrti zloglasnog pjevača. Lani je objavljeno i izdanje prošireno kako bi obuhvatilo i Shaneove posljednje dane, a knjiga je nedavno doživjela i svoj hrvatski prijevod u izdanju Rockmarka.
Kao i svaka Shaneova biografija, bilo ukoričena ili filmska (među kojima se posebno ističe “Crock of God” Juliena Templea) i “Ferocious Devotion” također je priča o nenadmašnom talentu koji je od ranih dana popraćen i autodestruktivnom crtom njegovog nositelja pa je tako otupljen nadljudskom konzumacijom pića i teških droga.
Balls prati MacGowanovu priču od ranih dana odrastanja koje je često provodio u krugu obitelji u idiličnom mjestu Commons u irskom Tipperaryju, preko školovanja u Engleskoj gdje će pokazati prve znakove nevjerojatnog dara za pisanje do “pronalaženja sebe” u prvim danima punk pokreta u Londonu čijom će istaknutom pojavom postati u sedamdesetima predstavljajući se kao Shane O’Hooligan.
U glazbu će stupiti kao član punk sastava The Nipple Erectors (kasnije skraćeno u The Nips) uz partnericu Shanne Bradley, prije nego pokrene Pogue Mahone (kasnije skraćeno u The Pogues) u kojima će kombinirati zvuk tradicionalne irske glazbe s pankerskim stavom i energijom prije nego u osamdesetima postanu slavni po svojim žestokim napetnicima koliko i zloglasni zbog opijanja i razularenog ponašanja koje ga je pratilo.
Kako su postajali sve slavniji, Shane kao da je sve više imao potrebu otupljivati se speedom, LSD-jem, a kasnije i heroinom što je konstantno zalijevao bezgraničnim količinama alkohola, a to je posljedično dovodilo do sve težeg funkcioniranja na pozornici ili u studiju. Ako su svoj kreativni i tržišni vrhunac dosegli albumom “If I Should Fall From Grace with God” i pogotovo njegovim singlom “Fairytale of New York” koja će se pretvoriti u jedan od najomiljenijih božićnih klasika svih vremena i gotovo zasjesti na sam vrh glazbene ljestvice u Velikoj Britaniji, problemi će postati neupitni već sa sljedećim izdanjem “Peace and Love” koji su gotovo svi članovi snimili pod utjecajem kokaina (sam Shane pak uglavnom na tripovima) te još više na narednom “Hell’s Ditch” koji je producirao legendarni Joe Strummer iz punk božanstva The Clash, a koji je unatoč kaosu koji ga je pratio ispao nekim čudom izvrsna ploča, po svim mjerilima bolja od prethodne.
Nakon što je Shaneovo neuračunjivo ponašanje za koje Balls uvelike krivi nemilosrni tempo beskonačnih turneja na koje je bend gonio uporni menadžer Frank Murray, a koje je frontmen uglavnom provodio izvan sebe od opijata i rijetko sposoban uopće i nastupati, izbačen je iz benda (čemu se donekle i nadao) koji je nastavio bez njega izdavši još dva neuspješna albuma, dok se on sam posvetio radu sa žešćim, punku naklonjenijim sastavom The Popes.
Oni su izdali jedan sjajan album (“The Snake”), nakon čega je uslijedio potpuno nenadahnuti “The Crock of Gold” iz 1997., i čini se da je Shaneova muza nakon toga ostala zauvijek utopljena u alkoholu i dugogodišnjem razaranju tijela i mozga. Kako će se kasnije skinuti s heroina, čemu je, prema knjizi, u nekoj mjeri prijavom pjevača policiji pridonijela i kolegica Sinéad O’Connor koja će preminuti svega nekoliko mjeseci prije njega, Shane će se na koncu pridružiti svom starom bendu na uspješnim povratničkim turnejama koje će ga donekle trgnuti iz vječnog oblaka otupljenosti.
“Divlja odanost” iz naslova Ballsove biografije možda je ipak ta odanost potpunoj negaciji sebe koju je Shane iz nekog nedokučivog razloga odlučio prakticirati, pa se čini kako je najveći dio svojih dana proveo izvan sebe najčešće pred televizorom buljeći u film za filmom kako bi pobjegao od stvarnosti. Čovjek koji je napisao neke od najljepših pjesama svog vremena, mnogo se puta spominje u knjizi, činio je sve kako bi izbjegao konflikte i borbe, pa je tako i borbu s vlastitim demonima davno predao, deseljećima čekajući da ga jednom konačno svladaju i zauvijek odnesu.
Za čitatelje koji nisu suviše vremena dosad posvetili proučavajući tragične postaje križa koje čine MacGowanovu životnu priču (s mnogo, mnogo posrtanja pod križem) naći će mnogo toga zanimljivog u “Divljoj odanosti” koja će vjerojatno manje zadovoljiti one okorijele fanove. hrvatski prijevod nije idealan, ali niti ne frustrira, dok je stil knjige mnogo lakši od njezinog uglavno mučnog sadržaja. A nakon čitanja ne preostaje vam ništa drugo nego da pustite koju od Shaneovih pjesama, natočite si čašu bilo čega i poželite mir njegovoj duši kojim god prostranstvima trenutno lutala.
(Rockmark, meki uvez, 304 stranice, ožujak 2025.)
Svi koji su poznavali Shanea MacGowana o svojim iskustvima s jednim od najvećih modernih irskih bardova govore više-manje isto. “Velikodušan, drag, neopisivo inteligentan, duhovan, iskren, suosjećajan… i posve mortus” samo su neki epiteti koje će iskoristiti, recimo, Nick Cave, no svijet će ga uglavnom pamtiti po ovom posljednjem.
“Čak i ako ne računamo legendarnu konzumaciju alkohola i narkotika, nekoliko su ga puta pregazili,napali su ga nebrojeno puta i tukli nogama u glavu, predozirao se, bio je na intenzivnoj, bio u ludnicama, ispadao iz vozila u pokretu; gotovo da si je pokušao ugroziti život na sve zamislive načine,” kaže njegova supruga Victoria Mary Clarke, ujedno i autorica knjige “A Drink with Shane MacGowan”.
No, ovdje govorimo o jednoj drugoj knjizi, onoj Richarda Ballsa koja nosi naziv “Shane MacGowan: Divlja odanost”, a jednostavno je podnaslovljena kao “biografija frontmena Poguesa”. Riječ je o posljednjoj službenog biografiji koja je objavljena za Shaneova života, i to najesen 2021., dvije godine prije smrti zloglasnog pjevača. Lani je objavljeno i izdanje prošireno kako bi obuhvatilo i Shaneove posljednje dane, a knjiga je nedavno doživjela i svoj hrvatski prijevod u izdanju Rockmarka.
Kao i svaka Shaneova biografija, bilo ukoričena ili filmska (među kojima se posebno ističe “Crock of God” Juliena Templea) i “Ferocious Devotion” također je priča o nenadmašnom talentu koji je od ranih dana popraćen i autodestruktivnom crtom njegovog nositelja pa je tako otupljen nadljudskom konzumacijom pića i teških droga.
Balls prati MacGowanovu priču od ranih dana odrastanja koje je često provodio u krugu obitelji u idiličnom mjestu Commons u irskom Tipperaryju, preko školovanja u Engleskoj gdje će pokazati prve znakove nevjerojatnog dara za pisanje do “pronalaženja sebe” u prvim danima punk pokreta u Londonu čijom će istaknutom pojavom postati u sedamdesetima predstavljajući se kao Shane O’Hooligan.
U glazbu će stupiti kao član punk sastava The Nipple Erectors (kasnije skraćeno u The Nips) uz partnericu Shanne Bradley, prije nego pokrene Pogue Mahone (kasnije skraćeno u The Pogues) u kojima će kombinirati zvuk tradicionalne irske glazbe s pankerskim stavom i energijom prije nego u osamdesetima postanu slavni po svojim žestokim napetnicima koliko i zloglasni zbog opijanja i razularenog ponašanja koje ga je pratilo.
Kako su postajali sve slavniji, Shane kao da je sve više imao potrebu otupljivati se speedom, LSD-jem, a kasnije i heroinom što je konstantno zalijevao bezgraničnim količinama alkohola, a to je posljedično dovodilo do sve težeg funkcioniranja na pozornici ili u studiju. Ako su svoj kreativni i tržišni vrhunac dosegli albumom “If I Should Fall From Grace with God” i pogotovo njegovim singlom “Fairytale of New York” koja će se pretvoriti u jedan od najomiljenijih božićnih klasika svih vremena i gotovo zasjesti na sam vrh glazbene ljestvice u Velikoj Britaniji, problemi će postati neupitni već sa sljedećim izdanjem “Peace and Love” koji su gotovo svi članovi snimili pod utjecajem kokaina (sam Shane pak uglavnom na tripovima) te još više na narednom “Hell’s Ditch” koji je producirao legendarni Joe Strummer iz punk božanstva The Clash, a koji je unatoč kaosu koji ga je pratio ispao nekim čudom izvrsna ploča, po svim mjerilima bolja od prethodne.
Nakon što je Shaneovo neuračunjivo ponašanje za koje Balls uvelike krivi nemilosrni tempo beskonačnih turneja na koje je bend gonio uporni menadžer Frank Murray, a koje je frontmen uglavnom provodio izvan sebe od opijata i rijetko sposoban uopće i nastupati, izbačen je iz benda (čemu se donekle i nadao) koji je nastavio bez njega izdavši još dva neuspješna albuma, dok se on sam posvetio radu sa žešćim, punku naklonjenijim sastavom The Popes.
Oni su izdali jedan sjajan album (“The Snake”), nakon čega je uslijedio potpuno nenadahnuti “The Crock of Gold” iz 1997., i čini se da je Shaneova muza nakon toga ostala zauvijek utopljena u alkoholu i dugogodišnjem razaranju tijela i mozga. Kako će se kasnije skinuti s heroina, čemu je, prema knjizi, u nekoj mjeri prijavom pjevača policiji pridonijela i kolegica Sinéad O’Connor koja će preminuti svega nekoliko mjeseci prije njega, Shane će se na koncu pridružiti svom starom bendu na uspješnim povratničkim turnejama koje će ga donekle trgnuti iz vječnog oblaka otupljenosti.
“Divlja odanost” iz naslova Ballsove biografije možda je ipak ta odanost potpunoj negaciji sebe koju je Shane iz nekog nedokučivog razloga odlučio prakticirati, pa se čini kako je najveći dio svojih dana proveo izvan sebe najčešće pred televizorom buljeći u film za filmom kako bi pobjegao od stvarnosti. Čovjek koji je napisao neke od najljepših pjesama svog vremena, mnogo se puta spominje u knjizi, činio je sve kako bi izbjegao konflikte i borbe, pa je tako i borbu s vlastitim demonima davno predao, deseljećima čekajući da ga jednom konačno svladaju i zauvijek odnesu.
Za čitatelje koji nisu suviše vremena dosad posvetili proučavajući tragične postaje križa koje čine MacGowanovu životnu priču (s mnogo, mnogo posrtanja pod križem) naći će mnogo toga zanimljivog u “Divljoj odanosti” koja će vjerojatno manje zadovoljiti one okorijele fanove. hrvatski prijevod nije idealan, ali niti ne frustrira, dok je stil knjige mnogo lakši od njezinog uglavno mučnog sadržaja. A nakon čitanja ne preostaje vam ništa drugo nego da pustite koju od Shaneovih pjesama, natočite si čašu bilo čega i poželite mir njegovoj duši kojim god prostranstvima trenutno lutala.
(Rockmark, meki uvez, 304 stranice, ožujak 2025.)
January 29, 2022
This was hands down the best biography of Shane I’ve read. It was honest, and didn’t pull any punches. Ranks up there with Here Comes Everyone by James Fearnley
June 15, 2022
Like most good movies from my youth, this is definitely a tale of two halves. The first half tells the story of Shanes life up until he wrote Fairy Tale of New York. Growing up around London with Irish parents during the height of the troubles Shane was an outsider from the very beginning, espeically at the private Westminster School, which he attended due to his precocity with English literature. He was reading the likes of James Joyce by the time he was 10, encouraged by his Dad. Whilst encouraging him to read his Dad is accussed of lax parenting that landed Shane in rehab as a teenager after he had been expelled from school.
Shane was heavily involved in the London punk scene in the 70s and was friends with The Sex Pistols, Joe Strummer and others in the scene. His first band, The Nipple Erectors, was a punk band but never got off the ground. It was after the broke up that he formed the Pogues and decided the style would combine his 2 loves Irish music and punk. Shane loved Ireland from a young age where he would spend lots of time with his mothers family on a farm near Nenagh in County Tipperary.
The book goes into detail about the early yeards of the Pogues, how they formed and the inspiration for their most memorable songs, the record deals, Frank Murray coming on board and driving them onto bigger things, their big international breaks and chart success. It is a fantastic story of a band on the rise, captured in Shanes songs and set mainly in North London pubs which I have been lucky enogh to drink in myself. It peaks with the chart success of Fairy Tale of New York as Christmas number 1 in Ireland.
What a crescendo!! From here things go downhill. Having recorded Rum, Sodomy and The Lash and If I should Fall from the Grace of God, Shane is now arguably past his peak creatively. He does produce some other memorable songs but the implications drinking and drug taking really come to fore from here. What until now had been having the craic now starts to come apart at the seems.
Shane reminds me a Kurt Cobain, a man of great musical talents who wasn't equipped for the attention there talents brought with them. This was a downward spiral that would see several of his friends die in his company, have his sister commit him to St John of Gods hospital in Dublin and be the end of the Pogues.
One story from the Pogues that I did like was the one about supporting Bob Dylan. Shane was in a constant battle with manager Frank Murray who by all accounts drove the band too hard and had them touring on the road way too much. Murray arranged for the band to support Bob Dylan on a tour in California, something most musicians would have dreamed of, but Shane didn't want to go. Shane always shied away from confrontation so instead of making his feelings clear, he got so drunk the night before they were supposed to fly that they wouldn't let him on the flight. Frank Murray sent him back to the hotel with his minder under strict orders to not let him out and to get a later flight. Shane managed to sneak out and when they went to the airport later, he was too drunk again. They tried for three days to get him on the flight but couldn't. In the end Shane hid out in someones house until the tour was over.
The book is peppered with lots of amusing anecdotes like this but the sheer abuse and waste of talent makes the second half of the book a heavy read. Remarkably given how unreliable Shane is, the people around him are still standing by him. None less than the love of his life Victoria. There relationship has been a rollercoaster but they are still together. A love story of our times. Just wait for Shane'e friend Johnny Depp to play Shane in the biopic.
Shane was heavily involved in the London punk scene in the 70s and was friends with The Sex Pistols, Joe Strummer and others in the scene. His first band, The Nipple Erectors, was a punk band but never got off the ground. It was after the broke up that he formed the Pogues and decided the style would combine his 2 loves Irish music and punk. Shane loved Ireland from a young age where he would spend lots of time with his mothers family on a farm near Nenagh in County Tipperary.
The book goes into detail about the early yeards of the Pogues, how they formed and the inspiration for their most memorable songs, the record deals, Frank Murray coming on board and driving them onto bigger things, their big international breaks and chart success. It is a fantastic story of a band on the rise, captured in Shanes songs and set mainly in North London pubs which I have been lucky enogh to drink in myself. It peaks with the chart success of Fairy Tale of New York as Christmas number 1 in Ireland.
What a crescendo!! From here things go downhill. Having recorded Rum, Sodomy and The Lash and If I should Fall from the Grace of God, Shane is now arguably past his peak creatively. He does produce some other memorable songs but the implications drinking and drug taking really come to fore from here. What until now had been having the craic now starts to come apart at the seems.
Shane reminds me a Kurt Cobain, a man of great musical talents who wasn't equipped for the attention there talents brought with them. This was a downward spiral that would see several of his friends die in his company, have his sister commit him to St John of Gods hospital in Dublin and be the end of the Pogues.
One story from the Pogues that I did like was the one about supporting Bob Dylan. Shane was in a constant battle with manager Frank Murray who by all accounts drove the band too hard and had them touring on the road way too much. Murray arranged for the band to support Bob Dylan on a tour in California, something most musicians would have dreamed of, but Shane didn't want to go. Shane always shied away from confrontation so instead of making his feelings clear, he got so drunk the night before they were supposed to fly that they wouldn't let him on the flight. Frank Murray sent him back to the hotel with his minder under strict orders to not let him out and to get a later flight. Shane managed to sneak out and when they went to the airport later, he was too drunk again. They tried for three days to get him on the flight but couldn't. In the end Shane hid out in someones house until the tour was over.
The book is peppered with lots of amusing anecdotes like this but the sheer abuse and waste of talent makes the second half of the book a heavy read. Remarkably given how unreliable Shane is, the people around him are still standing by him. None less than the love of his life Victoria. There relationship has been a rollercoaster but they are still together. A love story of our times. Just wait for Shane'e friend Johnny Depp to play Shane in the biopic.
November 9, 2021
I saw the Pogues live back in 1991 when they played at the Feile in Thurles during Ireland’s annual youth pilgrimage, The Trip to Tipp. They couldn’t have been better set up as headliners - Shane’s ancestral home, The commons, was only an hour away; The Pogues were at the height of their fame. and they were playing in front of a huge, young, pissed up crowd. The music was raucous and the atmosphere was electric, but my main memory is Shane MacGowan, sitting at the corner of the stage, nursing a bottle of whiskey, whilst there’s a whirlwind of sound and energy all around him. There were seven other musicians but it was Shane who drew everyones attention; he was the rebel poet, the leader of this rag tag bunch of trad punk rebels. These were our pistols, our clash. And yet, I couldn't help but wonder - why does he seem so lonely up there?
Little did we know then, but this was to be The Pogues last Irish gig until they reformed, 17 years later. When they visited Japan as part of the same ‘91 tour, Shane was sacked from his own band. His words at the time were said to have been, ‘You’ve all been very patient with me……..What took you so long?’
As this engrossing book details, Shane was a fairly broken man by this stage. He’d wanted to quit the band for some time, but as he didn't like confrontation or responsibility, he couldn’t do it himself. He needed someone to do it for him, he didn’t enjoy the fame and the gruelling touring schedule had nearly killed him. His legendary consumption of drink and drugs was out of control. This book is the story of one of Ireland’s most favourite sons, from his early days in England to the husk of a man he has now become.
To read the rest of the review please click here
Little did we know then, but this was to be The Pogues last Irish gig until they reformed, 17 years later. When they visited Japan as part of the same ‘91 tour, Shane was sacked from his own band. His words at the time were said to have been, ‘You’ve all been very patient with me……..What took you so long?’
As this engrossing book details, Shane was a fairly broken man by this stage. He’d wanted to quit the band for some time, but as he didn't like confrontation or responsibility, he couldn’t do it himself. He needed someone to do it for him, he didn’t enjoy the fame and the gruelling touring schedule had nearly killed him. His legendary consumption of drink and drugs was out of control. This book is the story of one of Ireland’s most favourite sons, from his early days in England to the husk of a man he has now become.
To read the rest of the review please click here
June 28, 2022
Interesting book about Shane MacGowan, lead singer for the band The Pogues. Notoriously known for being an alcoholic with really bad teeth. MacGowan was born in Ireland but moved to England when his father found a job there. He wanted to combine his love of classic Irish music with rock and created a very distinctive sound. The band finds success and management sends then on a rather arduous touring schedule causing Shane much stress which he relieved by using drugs. At first weed, progressing to LSD and speed and ultimately to heroin. He was such a mess, not showing up for gigs and forgetting the lyrics of his own songs, that his band forced him to quit. The Pogues started in the 1970s and the book covers Shane reaction to punk, he has stories to tell of the Sex Pistols and the Clash. I found the book a bit confusing because the author names many names but I sort of lost track of those people being a wide variety of band members, management, record label staff, cousins, girlfriends, teachers, etc. The author also wrote a book about Stiff Records which SPL does not have. Shane manages to survive and continues to make music. The book also notes that the BBC made a documentary about Shane finally getting his rotten teeth fixed. Overall, an interesting read about music of that era.
January 13, 2025
Entre las virtudes del libro destaca que muchas veces se usan las voces de personas que conocieron personalmente a Shane MacGowan para contar su historia. También destacaría la organización de los capítulos. Sin embargo, pese a que el libro loa las habilidades de este como letrista, el libro ofrece pocos ejemplos y creo que se podría beneficiar de incluirlos. Se habla a menudo de la influencia de la música irlandesa tradicional en su escritura, pero ofrecen, de nuevo, pocos ejemplos más allá de comentar que versiona algunos temas. Finalmente, lo que menos me ha gustado del libro es que obviamente MacGowan era una persona adicta y ambiciosa, y esto hizo que tratase francamente mal a personas de su entorno. Sin embargo, en el libro la mayoría de testimonios pasa esto totalmente por alto y se limitan a comentar lo sensible o buen letrista que era. Creo que se puede admirar sinceramente el talento de alguien y al mismo tiempo mencionar que como persona no hubiese sido la mejor relación para nadie ni como amigo, pareja o familiar.
June 14, 2025
How Shane MacGowan lived for as long as he did is unbelievable. I know that’s like a classic thing people say about rock stars, but my man ate a Beach Boys record because he was too afraid to quit the Pogues. Rip Shane MaGowan you would have loved checking the weather app at parties 💔
This book does let me use one of my famous catchphrases: I was satisfied but it needed more teeth. This guy had like 3 teeth for 25 years, and they don’t mention it until the last chapter!? If I was the author (more on him later) I would have had a running counter the entire time of how many teeth my boy was rocking with.
It would be remiss of me not to bring up that the author of this book is Richard Balls. Not judging, I just think it’s important to bring up.
Overall it was a very interesting a fun read.
This book does let me use one of my famous catchphrases: I was satisfied but it needed more teeth. This guy had like 3 teeth for 25 years, and they don’t mention it until the last chapter!? If I was the author (more on him later) I would have had a running counter the entire time of how many teeth my boy was rocking with.
It would be remiss of me not to bring up that the author of this book is Richard Balls. Not judging, I just think it’s important to bring up.
Overall it was a very interesting a fun read.
December 12, 2022
A very well put together biography. It gave me chills as I learned the circumstances under which some of my favorite songs were composed. It turned me on to new music, and gave the priceless gift of allowing me to hear old music with new ears. It’s amazing to be able to listen to an album I’ve heard 100 times and experience it like it’s the 1st time.
This book shines an honest light on Shane MacGowans exploits that were widely covered by tabloids and gets to the roots of his addictions. It was hard to get through the dark times, yet written in a way that helped the reader through. I wish other biographies I’ve read were done the same way.
This book shines an honest light on Shane MacGowans exploits that were widely covered by tabloids and gets to the roots of his addictions. It was hard to get through the dark times, yet written in a way that helped the reader through. I wish other biographies I’ve read were done the same way.
August 8, 2024
Unbelievable story. I knew a lot about Shane MacGowan, but I genuinely didn't realise JUST how fucked up the guy wants. Some genuine laugh out loud moments throughout the book and if you can get through the somewhat laborious (although necessary for context) the next ten chapters are superb. my one gripe is that this was an Audi book, and the reader obviously did very little research into pronunciations of any words that were in anyway Gaelic. Any Irish person who listens to it will know what I mean.
But if your a fan of his music or just want to learn more about the man and his mythical (or so I though) lifestyle, this is a great read/listen.
But if your a fan of his music or just want to learn more about the man and his mythical (or so I though) lifestyle, this is a great read/listen.
January 18, 2024
Complex and contradictory sums up this book and the life of Shane MacGowan. The books takes us on a pitched ride of highs and gutter lows with Shane. He hit the tops of the charts with the Pogues and bottomed out in rehab. In between he got hit by a cab, knocked his remaining front teeth out, lost the love of his life and got her back.
Often brilliant, frequently drunk, bold, and shy his legacy isn’t fully captured in the pages of this book.
I enjoyed the book, however, I had to put it down and walk away from it at several points. The nature of the man himself must have made the gathering of information difficult at best. I would have liked a deeper dive but in the end it probably wasn’t possible.
Often brilliant, frequently drunk, bold, and shy his legacy isn’t fully captured in the pages of this book.
I enjoyed the book, however, I had to put it down and walk away from it at several points. The nature of the man himself must have made the gathering of information difficult at best. I would have liked a deeper dive but in the end it probably wasn’t possible.
July 8, 2022
James Fearnley's Here Comes Everybody: The Story of the Pogues is a better book, but A Furious Devotion does have many things to recommend it. For starters, is there a more punk rock music writer's name than Dick Balls? I'd venture to say there isn't one, or not this side of Lester Bangs, at any rate. Reading this book I was looking for quotes from Spider Stacy, or Cait O'Riordan, or James Fearnley, and I found none. That's odd, and while it doesn't make for a bad book, it certainly makes for a less somplete one. The book may be "authorised," but whether or not it's comprehensive is another thing altogether. I'd recommend supplementing your reading on Shane and the Pogues by watching Julian Temple's documentary "Crock of Gold."
December 19, 2022
Cheers.
I thought it was a good book. They were interesting parts. If I had one complaint it would be the information provided by others. I would rather hear what Shane thinks versus what people think of Shane. We are all aware of what people think. Shane is a genius. A sad genius yet a genius.
I thought it was a good book. They were interesting parts. If I had one complaint it would be the information provided by others. I would rather hear what Shane thinks versus what people think of Shane. We are all aware of what people think. Shane is a genius. A sad genius yet a genius.
February 29, 2024
Well researched and commendable for including influential women from that time in the punk theme and the influential women in Shane’s life. Also interesting reflections on the Irish diaspora compared to the Irish in Ireland. Unfortunately, talented though he was, Shane MacGowan wasn’t a particularly interesting person.
October 5, 2024
Biografía del irrepetible Shane MacGowan desde sus comienzos rurales en Irlanda hasta su ascenso como icono popular. Profusamente documentado, el libro repasa toda su discografía y no escatima cogorzas, desfases y el consabido popurrí de drogas.
La traducción española contiene alguna errata, pero la edición lo suple con multitud de fotografías, a cada cual más chula. Muy guapez.
La traducción española contiene alguna errata, pero la edición lo suple con multitud de fotografías, a cada cual más chula. Muy guapez.
May 10, 2025
This is a very good biography. Well written and researched. It can be no easy task to write and make sense of the enigma that Shane MacGowan is. Literate poet and songwriter, first class junkie and everything in between. Richard Balls does a fine job of navigating the saint and sinner sides of a gigantic talent.
July 1, 2025
3/5
That’s no life. Fair play to Sinéad O'Connor. Love yer Shane! Light fiction next I reckon.
The words that he spoke
Seemed the wisest of philosophies
There's nothing ever gained
By a wet thing called a tear
When the world is too dark
And I need the light inside of me
I'll walk into a bar
And drink fifteen pints of beer
That’s no life. Fair play to Sinéad O'Connor. Love yer Shane! Light fiction next I reckon.
The words that he spoke
Seemed the wisest of philosophies
There's nothing ever gained
By a wet thing called a tear
When the world is too dark
And I need the light inside of me
I'll walk into a bar
And drink fifteen pints of beer
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews